Norwalk Gets $200K to Study Webster Lot Redevelopment

The state is giving Norwalk $200,000 to study the "feasibility of a mixed-use transit-oriented development" at the Webster Street parking lot.

The grant was part of $3,821,000 in statewide grants given to 21 cities and towns across the state announced Wednesday by the state Department of Economic and Community Development.

According to a news release from Gov. Dannel Malloy's office:

"The municipal grant program was created as a complement to DECD’s larger brownfield programs to assist local governments and their development agency partners to begin the process of redeveloping priority brownfield sites. 

"Prior to redevelopment of a brownfield or suspected contaminated site, environmental assessments are often required to provide more information to potential redevelopers about the site’s environmental conditions.

"Under the program, applicants are eligible to receive grants of up to $200,000 to fund investigation and other pre-development activities to prepare sites for future development and reuse."

Local reaction

The grant will help the city with environmental cleanup and reuse planning, according to a news release from state Sen. Bob Duff, a Norwalk Democrat. 

"The Norwalk Redevelopment Agency will develop these plans with community input, in concert with environmental professionals and reuse experts," Duff's news release said. 

“The planning activities are part of an overall initiative to renew public investment in SoNo, encourage residents and business owners to improve the appearance of their properties, and provide a better quality of life on South Norwalk,” said Mayor Harry Rilling in Duff's news release.